House bricks 'splitting'?

Plasterer

Spalling is created by the mortar pointing being too strong.



Note how the pointing remains when the brick faces are "blown"
Use a Natural hydraulic lime to point instead of portland cement - Although NHL lime will dry white you can get a colour additives to get the desired finish. NHL will let the water come and go and is softer than the brick itself.
When rain water gets in behind portland cement pointing it can't get out as the mortar is too strong - effectivly creating a barrier. this is when the spalling occurs as the water makes its way through the slightly softer brick - couple of harsh freezes - expansion of the water into ice - BANG youve lost the face of your brick.
Do not let your brickie put a handfull of Hydrated lime into a portland mix and fob you of that this is lime pointing - its not. NO Portland whatsoever - only NHLs.

Edit - just noticed your house is 1930 - there s good chance most of your house will be lime pointed anyway - where the spalling has occured is the pointing a darker colour than other areas? perhaps repointed at some time with portland? worth a lookj.

karl-123

when the bricks get damp and freeze in winter,

frozen water expands by 10% average,

copper pipes burst and ( soft bricks ) flake their face off,

the face falls off anytime throughout the year due to gravity,

brush some water repellant, if your that bothered,

but buying enough for a full house, will be megga dear,

tatty bye

:xmassign:

ally18

phill99 wrote: »

Leave them until after the winter. They won't get worse, your house won't fall down and no kittens will die as a result.

Thanks, was a bit worried about those kittens.

greenlaws

Plasterer is spot on.... The photos shows cement, with very hard, engineering style bricks laid in it... I suspect that the bricks are saturated - is there any drainage nearby - leaking gutter, pipe, splashing water????? Something has to be supplying water to that wall to make it that bad...

greenlaws

Oh - Plasterer - where are you. This is a rare occasion when I see someone who REALLY knows thier stuff - other forum members take note - this guy is a rarity!! Listen to his wisdom....

Plasterer

greenlaws wrote: »

Oh - Plasterer - where are you. This is a rare occasion when I see someone who REALLY knows thier stuff - other forum members take note - this guy is a rarity!! Listen to his wisdom....

He He thank you.....


I'm up here on the roof